Review: Star Bright by Anne Richmond Wakefield

Star Bright by Anne Richmond Wakefield
Release Date: July 26, 2018
Purchase: Amazon

Seventeen-year-old Bright runs to stay alive. Her dad left before she was born, her mom died of cancer, and she’s spent years trying to numb her pain. She’s on the road to recovery when she decides to run an ultra-relay race in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It doesn’t hurt that Levi, gorgeous and nineteen, is on her team.


One terrible decision during the race changes everything. Soon, Bright must call upon strength she’s not sure she has and decide she is worth fighting for. To survive the wilds of the Blue Ridge, she’ll have to rely on the one person she's spent her entire life battling: herself.

My Thoughts:
This story was so much more than I was expecting.  I knew going in that it was a thriller and that always speaks to me, but what I didn't know was how emotional Bright's story would be.

Star Bright is labeled as a thriller, but it is so much more than that.  The main character Bright hasn't had an easy life and from the beginning the story pulls you into her life and its ups but mostly downs.  I felt connected to her from the get go and I just wanted to know all the why's and how's of Bright's life.  I think the way the author used her counseling sessions really helped the reader see into Bright more so than most characters.  We get to see her answer tough questions and we get to see a lot of backstory that explains why she is the way she is.  I really enjoyed these parts of the story because I felt like I could understand Bright in so many ways. 

My favorite part though was the thriller element.  Wakefield manages to completely capture the creepy vibe with her descriptions.  One of my favorites was "She sounded like a horror-movie doll come to life."  I mean CHILLS!  This is just one example, believe me there are many, many more crazy descriptions that will stay with me for a very long time.  I won't say more because you definitely need to read this and I refuse to give spoilers.  I'll just say I did not see that twist coming and it was amazing!

This story is something that I have been looking for, but didn't even know it.  Wakefield's voice is fresh and something I think is desperately needed on those YA shelves.  Brilliant debut!

5 snowflakes

Review: The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
Published: April 11th, 2017
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love. No matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly's totally not dying of loneliness—except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie's new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. If Molly can win him over, she'll get her first kiss and she'll get her twin back.

There's only one problem: Molly's coworker, Reid. He's a chubby Tolkien superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there's absolutely no way Molly could fall for him.

Right?

Milka's Thoughts:

I loved Becky Albertalli's debut Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, so it came as a no surprise to me that I loved her follow-up The Upside of Unrequited too, but I must admit I would never have dared to believe I would love this novel THIS much.

After the brilliance of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, Becky Albertalli had big shoes to fill with her second novel. Simon has become quite of a phenomenon with awards and movie in the making, so obviously there are a lot of expectations towards Albertalli's second novel. The Upside of Unrequited is a very different kind of book, but there are the same warmth and humor present as in Simon. All in all, The Upside of Unrequited managed to usurp my expectations and make me fall in love with Albertalli's writing and characters once again.

Molly has had a crush of a lot of different guys, but she has never acted on those crushes. She feels like she does not fit in and that maybe not everyone is not meant to fall in love. Maybe there are people who will never find a person who happens to be crushing on them too. When Molly's twin Cassie meets Mina and falls head over heels in love with her, Molly is once again made to question the dynamics of relationships. Molly is happy for Cassie, but at the same time, she cannot help to feel like she is missing on something.

This is one of those books I really wish I would have had in my life when I was a teenager. Though Molly and I are very different, we also share a lot of things. I am also a fat girl and I was always the one watching from the sidelines while my friends had relationships. But while I never really wanted a boyfriend, Molly wants one. And that is completely okay! When Cassie and Mina get it to their minds that Molly should hook up with Will, one of Mina's friends, Molly starts to get hopeful. Could the kind of flirty, ridiculously attractive hipster guy see something in her? And more importantly, could she see something in him. While Will seems like a viable option, Molly also starts to get more and more into spending time with Reid, her co-worker, who seems like totally not her type, but who also is someone Molly cannot stop thinking about.

Reid is pretty much perfection and I loved the moments between him and Molly. But while I am a huge fan of romantic storylines, what really made me fall in love with The Upside of Unrequited are the family dynamics the novel portrays. The relationship between Molly and Cassie is loving, but also complicated and not always exactly what they want it to be. I loved the scenes with Molly, Cassie and their mothers Patty and Nadine, and I now feel like Albertalli should totally right a book about how Patty and Nadine fell in love.

I am not Jewish and know very little about the Jewish culture, but I can only imagine how important a book like this is for the young (and older) Jewish girls out there who must see themselves very rarely portrayed in books like this.

Representation of fat bodies is always problematic and way too often hurtful. Luckily, Albertalli approaches the topic with grace and is able to create a character with thoughts that I, a fat girl myself, was able to relate with. The struggle Molly goes through with her body from time to time and the thoughts she has where something teenage-me definitely also had. I was happy to see that at the end of the day, Molly's body really has nothing to do with her capability to find happiness -- she does not have to change her body to be accepted, but rather just has to find a way to see that she is gorgeous and worthy of good things just as she is.

I really loved this book and I cannot wait to see what Albertalli comes up with next!

Five snowflakes

Review: Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release date: April 4th, 2017

In this delightfully charming teen spin on You’ve Got Mail, the one guy Bailey Rydell can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet.

Classic movie buff Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online by “Alex.” Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush.

Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life—or worse?), Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth—a.k.a. her new arch-nemesis. But life is whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever-it-is she’s starting to feel for Porter.

And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex…Approximately.

My thoughts:

"Teen spin on You've Got Mail" were the only words I needed to get extremely excited about Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett and the fact that I loved her previous YA novel The Anatomical Shape of a Heart added to my excitement.

Bailey, also known by her nickname Mink, has been chatting online with a fellow film geek called "Alex" for a good few months. Despite the fact that she does not really know that much about "Alex", she feels like he could be someone she could really connect with, not only online but in "real life".

Bailey knows where "Alex" lives, though, and when she moves from the East Coast to California to live with her father, she is not quite sure how to tell "Alex" that she is now a resident of the same town that he comes from. Rather than speaking up and telling the truth, Bailey decides to put all the info that she has about "Alex" together in an attempt to figure out his identity.

The move to California comes with a lot of changes, with one of them being a new summer job at a museum called The Cavern Palace. While the job comes with perks, like making a new friend called Grace, Bailey is struggling to find a way to deal with her annoying co-worker Porter. Sure, Porter is extremely attractive and charming but it also seems like he is determined to make Bailey's life difficult.

Despite her annoyance with Porter, Bailey feels a pull towards him. As the two spend more time together, Bailey realizes that Porter is much more than a handsome, slightly cocky surfer, and as she learns more about him, she starts to ignore "Alex" in order to spend more time with Porter. It also seems like "Alex" is not that interested no longer, which makes Bailey wonder what happened between the two.

If you have seen You've Got Mail, the basics of this story won't be a surprise to you, and basically, the synopsis itself tells you that Porter is actually Alex. Despite the fact that you know this major plot point from the first page onwards, this book is full of wonderful surprises. And reading through how they find out each other's identities is one the best parts of this novel.

Bailey is such a great main character. While reading this novel, I had written down to my notes that she is "realistically and wonderfully flawed." What I mean by this is that she feels extremely real. She is young and inexperienced in many ways, and while she does mistakes, those mistakes teach her something and she grows through them. I loved reading about her reactions to kind of feelings she has not felt before because I felt like the way Bennett writes about first crushes and perhaps even first love felt extremely realistic and touching.

I liked Porter as a character too, though there is a part to him that I wasn't so sure about -- since I don't want to spoil the novel for you, I will let you make your own conclusions about what I  mean (if you read this novel, you probably will figure it out since this side of him is something Bailey worries about too). While at first I was kind of scared that he would be some California surfer cliche, I was pleased to notice that he is much more than he seems.

The chemistry between Bailey and Porter is written very well, and at many points I was able to feel the kind of tension and chemistry between them that is present between the characters in You've Got Mail. If you are a fan of swoon-worthy novels, you definitely need to check this one out!

I am always a big fan of realistic, well-written daughter-father relationships and I loved the way Bennett writes about the interaction between Bailey and her father. The relationship is based on mutual trust, and while they might not see eye to eye on everything, Bennett is able to create a feeling of love between the two.

One thing I must mention before I finish this review is how awesomely sex positive this novel is. I know some readers might not be fans of this aspect of the novel, but I absolutely loved seeing positive, realistic portrayal of female masturbation and the kind of sexual awakening that Bailey goes through. There are no super explicit scenes involving sex, BUT even mentioning something like female masturbation is something you don't see very often in young adult novels.

All in all, Alex, Approximately is a brilliant, entertaining young adult novel that I found extremely hard time to put down once I started it.

5 Snowflakes

Review: The Midnight Star (The Young Elites #3) by Marie Lu

The Midnight Star (The Young Elites #3) by Marie Lu

Published: October 11, 2016

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

There was once a time when darkness shrouded the world, and the darkness had a queen.

Adelina Amouteru is done suffering. She’s turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge: victory. Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one, but with each conquest her cruelty only grows. The darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy all she’s gained.

When a new danger appears, Adelina’s forced to revisit old wounds, putting not only herself at risk, but every Elite. In order to preserve her empire, Adelina and her Roses must join the Daggers on a perilous quest—though this uneasy alliance may prove to be the real danger. 

My Thoughts
“There was once a time when darkness shrouded the world, and the darkness had a queen.”

Fantastical conclusion to an explosive series! The Midnight Star is just another example of Marie Lu’s exceptional ability to take her readers on a quest that is nothing short of high octane adventure and mind-blowing intrigue. YA Fantasy at its BEST!

In this final installment to The Young Elites, we journey with Adelina Amouteru has she continues to spiral down a dark path with both her powers and reign as queen. She faces her enemies head on with her ability to wield dark illusions and suffering, and she’s gained the fear of her people. The only one she can trust is Magiano, and even he can’t keep her safe from the threats she faces at every turn. When the world begins to show signs of destruction, Adelina must align with her enemies and rejoin the Elites as they travel to the Realm of Gods to save her people from the darkness that lies ahead.

Marie Lu definitely made some bold decisions in this story with both her characters and plot direction. The Midnight Star takes us down a dark path that Adelina experiences, and it was definitely an emotional exercise. It did not escape my notice that despite having the story told in multiple perspectives, where we heard from Raffaele, Maeve, Magiano, Teren and Violetta, the only first person narrative was from Adelina. It was like Marie Lu was forcing her audience to experience Adelina’s darkness firsthand. Great perspective that added a dark edge to the story.

Also, I loved how Lu was daring enough to make some bold sacrifices throughout her story with both characters and plot direction. Despite not wanting to lose some of the characters I connected with, it added credibility and substance to the story. I applaud Marie Lu for making the decisions she made, and I truly sensed she did it to advance the story and not for shock value. Well done!

As far as the emotional strength in this story, I would rate it a TEN! I’m not a crier when it comes to reading, but let me tell you… there were some moments that I felt the familiar tightening of my jaw and sting in my eyes. That only goes to show how completely I connected with the story and characters. What an experience!

Overall, it’s no secret I’m a huge fan of YA Fantasy, but only when it’s exceptional to the likes of Rowling, Marchetta and Lu. I’m willing to invest my time in this genre when I trust the author has the ability to create a fantastical journey, and Marie Lu is up there with the best in this genre. Loved it much!

5 Snowflakes

Review: The Last Harvest by Kim Liggett

The Last Harvest by Kim Liggett
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: January 10th, 2017
Purchase: Amazon

“I plead the blood.”

Those were the last words seventeen-year-old golden boy quarterback Clay Tate heard rattling from his dad's throat when he discovered him dying on the barn floor of the Neely Cattle Ranch, clutching a crucifix to his chest.

Now, on the first anniversary of the Midland, Oklahoma slaughter, the whole town's looking at Clay like he might be next to go over the edge. Clay wants to forget the past, but the sons and daughters of the Preservation Society—a group of prominent farmers his dad accused of devil worship—won't leave him alone. Including Ali, his longtime crush, who suddenly wants to reignite their romance after a year of silence, and hated rival Tyler Neely, who’s behaving like they’re old friends.

Even as Clay tries to reassure himself, creepy glances turn to sinister stares and strange coincidences build to gruesome rituals—but when he can never prove that any of it happened, Clay worries he might be following his dad down the path to insanity...or that something far more terrifying lies in wait around the corner.

My Thoughts:
This book is EVERYTHING!  I have been reading creepy reads for a long time and The Last Harvest tops my favorites of ALL.TIME!!!  Yes it is that good!!

Right from the beginning Liggett throws her readers into a story filled with dark and scary elements.  From the breeding barn, wheat fields, and Preservation Society you can just feel the sinister smoke following Clay around.  It was AMAZING!!  I don't think any other story has been this way and I loved it!  

The story itself was dark and had a religious tone throughout, but it wasn't too heavy handed and I honestly liked the way it was woven throughout the story. It plays a huge part in the overall plot, but the author didn't let it get too preachy which I appreciated.  It felt right inside the story and I don't think it would have worked otherwise.  There is one part that's a bit aggressive and bothered me, but I am guessing the author chose to throw that particular scene in to show how bad the church was and it's thinking.  Not quite sure why it was necessary, but I am grateful it was only one scene and the author chose to move on.

Clay was a great character.  He was flawed, but he just wanted to help his family after his fathers gruesome death.  That's another thing I liked about this, Liggett didn't throw all the gory at you at one time she let things build.  Like with Clay's dads death, you know it was gruesome, but she only throws bits and pieces (okay that's a bit gross if you have read the story you will understand...ick) at you and you don't really see the full picture until later in the story.  I liked this because I felt like the story was building into something spectacular and I was right.  Okay back to the characters, Clay was awesome.  I think the played his part right and didn't come across as too good or too bad.  He tried to be the man of the house, but when you are seventeen and well things beyond your control start happening one can't expect to be perfect.  I appreciated that he stood his ground throughout and he did the best he could.

I also liked the town feel.  Like I said this author painted a great picture for her thriller and this small town was a great addition.  It sounds cliche, but it worked and she did a great job weaving in the history to show why this town was the way it was.  It all just really worked!

I honestly can't think of one thing I would change and for me that's rare.  The pacing, flow, writing, characters, setting, and plot were all key pieces to this masterpiece and they all pulled their own weight.  Side note I would love to see this on the big screen!!

My favorite part was the ending!!! OMG!  I don't think I have ever been as surprised at an ending before!  I won't spoil anything, but let me just say Kim Liggett has become my now go to author for creepy!!  I loved the way she chose to end The Last Harvest and I won't lie I had nightmares last night about that ending!!  SO.MUCH.FUN!!  If you love creepy thrillers this book is definitely for you!!!!!!!!

5 HUGE snowflakes

ARC Review & Giveaway: Always by Sarah Jio

Always by Sarah Jio 

Expected publication: February 7, 2017

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Preorder links: Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

From the "New York Times" bestselling author of "Blackberry Winter "and "The Violets of March" comes a gripping, poignant novel about the kind of love that never lets go, and the heart s capacity to remember.

While enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner with her fiance, Ryan, at one of Seattle s chicest restaurants, Kailey Crane can t believe her good fortune: She has a great job as a writer for the "Herald" and is now engaged to a guy who is perfect in nearly every way. As they leave the restaurant, Kailey spies a thin, bearded homeless man on the sidewalk. She approaches him to offer up her bag of leftovers, and is stunned when their eyes meet, then stricken to her very core: The man is the love of her life, Cade McAllister.

When Kailey met Cade ten years ago, their attraction was immediate and intense everything connected and felt" right." But it all ended suddenly, leaving Kailey devastated. Now the poor soul on the street is a faded version of her former beloved: His weathered and weary face is as handsome as Kailey remembers, but his mind has suffered in the intervening years. Over the next few weeks, Kailey helps Cade begin to piece his life together, something she initially keeps from Ryan. As she revisits her long-ago relationship, Kailey realizes that she must decide exactly what and whom she wants.

Alternating between the past and the present, "Always" is a beautifully unfolding exploration of a woman faced with an impossible choice, a woman who discovers what she s willing to save and what she will sacrifice for true love.

Praise for Sarah Jio
Goodnight June
"Sarah Jio s delightful and uplifting novel is guaranteed to melt even the toughest cynic and deserves a top rating of five stars (plus the moon)." Historical Novel Society"
"A tribute to family and forgiveness." Booklist"

Morning Glory
"Jio explores the degree to which time and distance give comfort to those who have experienced loss [with] a depth of feeling in her writing." Publishers Weekly
"Jio has become one of the most-read women in America." Womans World

Blackberry Winter
"Compelling . . . an intoxicating blend of mystery, history, and romance." Real Simple
"Ingenious . . . imaginative." The Seattle Times

My Thoughts

I’d like to believe my standards for giving a book five-stars is pretty fair and consistent. One common criterion includes stories that have me thinking about the subject matter well beyond the pages of the book and long after I’ve completed the final chapters. Always by Sarah Jio accomplished that in more ways than one. This book definitely has staying power, and days after finishing it I'm still thinking about the content and characters! It was a beautiful combination of heartfelt struggles, deep connections and social issues that should not be ignored.

In her latest novel Always, Jio shares Kailey Crane’s struggle of having to choose between the man she’s decided to spend the rest of her life with and one that suddenly reemerges after a devastating disappearance. It all happens one night when Kailey and her fiancé Ryan are leaving a restaurant, and a homeless man on the sidewalk catches Kailey’s attention. She’s convinced the man she locks eyes with is the love of her life that disappeared suddenly and with no warning years prior. Cade McAllister has been wandering the streets for years, and now Kailey has to decide whether she should try and make sense of what happened and help Cade, or continue with the perfect life she’s begun with Ryan.

From the very beginning of this novel, I knew I was in for an emotional ride. It is clearly evident that both men loved Kailey, and having the story told in alternating time references helped put into perspective how Kailey felt about Cade and Ryan.

Throughout the story, I knew there was more to Cade’s disappearance that what was presented on the surface. He had a deep connection with Kailey that was believable and heartfelt.

“I was looking for you the whole time… I just didn’t know it… I love you more every day. ~Cade” Quote taken from an uncorrected proof of Always by Sarah Jio

I admired Kailey for the choices she had to make throughout the novel. Considering the pain and devastation she experienced with Cade’s disappearance and subsequent reappearance, the decisions she made where admirable. However, that didn’t stop me from feeling an emotional pull for both men because they clearly loved Kailey, and where one needed her help to put his life back together, the other had begun to build a future with her that was clearly built out of love.

“I may not have closure, but I have tasted wisdom. Anyone who has ever had their heart broken, or even bruised, has learned that there’s finality in facts. He left. And I realized that when someone wants to leave, you have to let him go.” Quote taken from an uncorrected proof of Always by Sarah Jio

Throughout her novel, Jio grapples with a topical subject that is becoming a social crisis in the U.S., which is homelessness. Recently, this has become top of mind for me because I’ve noticed a growing number of homeless people as I drive into work, mainly the homeless camps alongside the freeways and those that wander the streets and not just in low income communities, but also, affluent neighborhoods. As I was reading this novel, it led me to look up some of the statistics, and it was devastating to learn that that are over 560,000 homeless people in the US. That number is simply tragic considering the economic maturity of our country. What surprised me even more is that the reasons for homelessness go beyond drug and alcohol abuse. Many people find themselves out on the street because of job loss, divorce, and domestic violence. What’s even more difficult to accept is that mental health contributes significantly to this growing epidemic and our country is closing mental health institutions forcing these people out on the streets.

As I kept paging through this novel, researching this social issue on my own, and talking with family and friends, I knew this story consumed me in more ways than one. Always is emotional, heartfelt and most of all relevant. I hope it makes waves when it hits the shelves in 2017. This book deserves attention for the social issues it brings to light and the manner in which Sarah Jio chose to present her story. Five stars indeed!

Thank you Penguin Random House for allowing me to read an Advanced Readers Copy of Always by Sarah Jio.

Site References
2016’s Shocking Homelessness Statistics
The Truth About Homelessness

5 Snowflakes

If this sounds like a story you would enjoy reading, WinterHaven Books is giving away an ARC copy of Always by Sarah Jio. Simply fill out the rafflecopter and share a thoughtful comment below. This giveaway is open to US Residents only. 

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Review: The Other Boy by M.G. Hennessey

Other Boy by M.G. Hennessey by M.G. Hennessey
Published: September 20th, 2016
Publisher: HarperCollins

A heartfelt and timely middle grade story about a transgender boy’s journey toward acceptance and empathy. Perfect for fans of George and Gracefully Grayson.

Twelve-year-old Shane Woods is just a regular boy. He loves pitching for his baseball team, working on his graphic novel, and hanging out with his best friend, Josh. But Shane is keeping something private, something that might make a difference to his teammates, to Josh, and to his new crush, Madeline. And when a classmate threatens to reveal his secret, Shane’s whole world comes crashing down. It will take a lot of courage for Shane to ignore the hate and show the world that he’s still the same boy he was before. And in the end, those who stand beside him may surprise everyone, including Shane.

My Thoughts:

Oh man, this book was ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. Not only did it manage to make me feel a lot of different things, it also taught me something new. I think that kind of reading experiences are always the most rewarding ones.

The Other Boy is a story of 12-year-old Shane. He is in 6th grade, loves baseball and draws a graphic novel about a man called Hogan Fillion (named after his childhood dog Hogan and his favorite actor from Firefly, Nathan Fillion) in his spare time. He has a best friend called Josh and a crush on a girl called Madeleine. His parents are divorced, and he lives with his mother. Shane is happy with himself and his life, but he has a secret that could change everything - he is transgender. 

In addition to his friends Shane is surrounded by his mother and father who have divorced when Shane was younger. Shane's mother is wonderfully encouraging and loving and the way she approaches Shane and his gender is done, in my opinion, very well. Shane's father represent a more questioning side, and though it can be easy to dislike him at moments, the way Shane sees his father helps the reader to understand their relationship a little bit better. In addition to Shane's parents there is Dr. Anne, a physician specialized in transgender children and providing understanding and help when it is really needed. 

Shane is such a lovable, interesting character that I instantly fell in love with. He is funny, loving, incredibly mature and capable of forgiveness. He is creative, loves Firefly and spending time with his best friend, and hopes that one day he does not have to live with secrets. I was so touched by some of the things he says and thinks and the relationship he has with his mother is absolutely fantastic and very well written by Hennessey. I was absolutely heartbroken and angry about the things Shane has to go through as a result of people's close-mindedness, but also relieved that there were people around him that accepted and loved him. 

I want to applaud M.G. Hennessey for writing this story because I think stories like this are extremely important, especially for young readers. The earlier children learn to be accepting and open and to feel empathy for people who might be a little different from them, the better. The Other Boy tackles, for example, the importance of using the preferred pronouns and the hurt that comes from when someone identifies you incorrectly as well as when and how to use terms like "transitioning" and "stealth mode".  It also discusses the importance of accepting communities, like a support group for transgender kids and their parents and tells a heartbreaking story about a boy who feels like he cannot be what he wants to be just because people around him do not accept him. Hennessey also manages to acknowledge that not all transgender kids share similar experiences and is aware of the fact that there is not one correct way to deal with things such as one's identity, sexuality, etc. 

There will be parents who will keep their children away from this book and shun it, but hopefully, the majority will be parents who will share this book with their children and encourage them to make their own conclusions about Shane's story. I'm not a parent and do not have the authority to say how parents should raise their children, but I know that children are capable of making their own decisions. While it is completely fine to pass on opinions/values on children,  think they should be able to have a chance to form their own opinions. While this book shows examples of the cruelty children are capable of via bullying, it also shows that kids can have an incredible tendency for being open-minded and accepting of people just as they are.

Five snowflakes

Review and Giveaway: The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Published: November 1, 2016

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

My Thoughts
“Once they met, the rest of it, the love between them, was inevitable..”

“She smiles so big that I know that whatever happens will be worth it.”

Love.. love.. love.
The Sun is Also a Star is another great example that Nicola Yoon has found her place in YA fiction. This is the first book I’ve read in a while, and all avid readers know how frustrating it is not to be able to enjoy your hobby. So thank you Yoon for penning a beautiful, simple, captivating story about a boy and a girl whose lives change after a chance meeting. It’s nice to know that with the right story, I can fall into my happy place, travel with fictional characters and simply enjoy their journey.

In this novel, we meet Natasha Kingsley who sees the world through a scientific lens of observable facts. There’s no room in her life for fate, destiny, and the possibility of falling love. If it can’t be seen, measured, quantified… then it just doesn’t exist. However, when she meets a funny, poetic, Korean boy the day she and her family are to be deported back to Jamaica, she wonders how she miscalculated so much.

Daniel Bae is a hopeless romantic that loves to write poetry. However, growing up in a Korean household where his parents have already decided his future, where he’s to go to Yale and be a doctor, he’s not quite sure how to navigate around the expectations he has no desire to fulfill. Then he meets Natasha, and as they spend a New York day together, new possibilities begin to take shape for him.

I truly enjoyed this novel. I knew after the first few pages that it was going to be an experience I wouldn’t soon forget. The story is not complicated, dramatic or over the top. It’s sincere and heartfelt. There are moments and passages that made me just stop and think about life and the choices we make. I love books that make me contemplate beyond the lines.

One thing I enjoy about Yoon’s writing is her creative narrative. Not only do we get the dual POV of Natasha and Daniel, but we also get insight into secondary and tertiary characters that you don’t realize play a crucial role in the main characters’ lives. We also get some fun insight into topics that balance love and science. Somehow, Yoon makes it all fit into a story that just flows.

Lastly, the ending was spot on! Yoon was bold in her decisions and I loved that! Not everything ends perfectly and sometimes things happen for a reason.

Overall, Yoon’s managed to impress me with her consistently in writing amazing stories with characters that have staying power. So glad I’m able to add another fave YA author to my list.

5 Snowflakes

If this sounds like a story you would enjoy, enter through Rafflecopter for a chance to win an ARC edition of The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon. Also, I would love to hear why you think you'd enjoy this story. 

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Adult Coloring Book: Bram Stoker's Dracula: A Coloring Classic

Bram Stoker's Dracula: A Coloring Classic
Illustrated by Chellie Carrol

Published: August 30, 2016
Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Purchase: Amazon  |  Penguin Random House

Dracula is one of horror's most classic stories, and now it is a hauntingly detailed coloring book. Intricate linework combines with iconic quotations and scenes to create a chilling book that will inspire creativity while taking you on a journey of terror, thrills, and romance. Featuring a richly foiled cover.

My Thoughts
With Halloween right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to spotlight another Coloring Classic by the lovely people at Random House. I am so thankful for having the opportunity to sample their new line of adult coloring books because I’ve had an amazing time with this collection. Recently, I received a copy of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. This Coloring Classic was designed and illustrated by the talented Chellie Carrol.

As you journey through the pages, you can see her unique style of bringing this horror novel to life. She combined carefully selected quotes, tranquil landscapes, as well as, chilling scenes to give us the full gamut of Bram Stroker’s vivid imagination.

As daunting and eerie as this story can be, I really liked how Carrol incorporated some beautiful scenes you can easily get lost it before experiencing the gothic horror of this story. I enjoyed adding color to the beautiful landscapes and oceanside views. I breezed through these pages rather quickly and enjoyed every moment of it.

However, Dracula’s Coloring Classic wouldn’t be complete without a glimpse into his resting place. I couldn’t quite decide what colors I wanted to use for his lair, but I knew it had to be bold and dramatic.

Lastly, it was rather exciting spending some time on a couple of vampiric transformations. I’ve been a fan of the paranormal for quite some time, so bringing these pages to life with vivid, bright colors was fun and freaky all at that same time.

Overall, I know I’m not done with this coloring book. There are some additional pages that caught my interest because of their nightmarish themes that will be fun to dive into. So if you’re a fan of all things spooky and spectacular, I suggest you check out this coloring book. It’s quite the treat for Halloween!

5 Snowflakes

If you missed my previous posts or would like to see some additions I’ve added to Wuthering Heights and Romeo and Juliet, be sure to check them out. As I continue to go through these books, I’ll be sure to keep adding to my coloring collection.

Also available in the Coloring Classic series:

Pride and Prejudice: A Coloring Classic by Jane Austen

Illustrated by Chellie Carroll

Wuthering Heights: A Coloring Classic by Emily Bronte

Illustrated by Elisabetta Stoinich

Romeo and Juliet: A Coloring Classic by William Shakespeare

Illustrated by Bethan Janine and Renia Metallinou

Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter #8) by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter #8) by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne

Published: July 31, 2016

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

My Thoughts
I absolutely loved this eight installment of the Harry Potter series! It made me wish I could experience this magical world from the very beginning.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is narrated as a script, and where others might find this format distracting, I did not have any issues falling into this fantastical world I’ve been missing so much.

As we reenter the world of wizards and witches, we learn that Harry Potter is struggling not only with his job at the Ministry of Magic, but also with his son Albus who feels the burden of being the son of the infamous Boy Who Lived. When Albus finds an unlikely friend in Scorpius Malfoy, they both take on an adventure to change some events of the past, but not without some devastating consequences.

From beginning to end, I felt like I reentered the world of Harry Potter that I know and love in great detail. All of the characters felt the same from Ron and Hermoine to Harry and Draco. I enjoyed meeting the next generation, and I truly hope J.K. Rowling finds a way to keep this story going for decades to come. There is so much potential to take this series in so many different directions, and I hope that happens.

Great addition to the Harry Potter series! This will always be one of my favorites. Fantastical and simply amazing.

5 Snowflakes

Adult Coloring Book: Wuthering Heights: A Coloring Classic by Emily Bronte

Wuthering Heights: A Coloring Classic by Emily Bronte

Adult Coloring Book illustrated by Elisabetta Stoinich
Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 27, 2016

Purchase Links: Penguin Random House | Amazon

Bring to life the classic Victorian story of Wuthering Heights and the love affair of Catherine and Heathcliff in this gorgeously detailed coloring book. Intricate linework combines with iconic quotations and gothic scenes to create an evocative book that will inspire creativity and take you on a windswept journey across the Yorkshire moors.

My Thoughts:
With the recent popularity of adult coloring books, I have to say that The Coloring Classics by Random House are my favorite. I recently received a copy of Wuthering Heights, and oh my! What an amazing collection of pictures to dive into. Aside from this classic being my absolute favorite, it goes without saying that Elisabetta Stoinich did a beautiful job of bringing Emily Bronte’s story to life.

As in the novel, the illustrator did a wonderful job of using parallel elements to compare and contrast the people and scenes that ranged from whimsical and light to gothic and dark.

I really enjoyed adding color to the playful pages of young Heathcliff and Catherine. I used bright colors and defined outlines to bring out the element of how full of life these two characters were at a young age. The caption that reads, “They both promised fair to grow up as rude as savages… It was one of their chief amusements to run away to the moors in the morning and remain there all day,” and was depicted perfectly in this scene.

There was another page I wanted to point out, which I felt captured the unrefined darkness of Thrushgrove Grange. In this page, the intricate detail of the home was balanced with the ghostly darkness of this character’s feelings. Adding sharp colors to this page, I feel did the job of portraying Catherine’s haunted moments in the story.


Of all of the pages in this book, I must admit I spent the most time with Heathcliff and Catherine’s dream scene. Theirs is a passionate tale of doomed love, and Stoinich did a brilliant job of illustrating the connection between these two characters. This page alone, I invested around three hours to truly capture the perfection of the scene and their moment together. I loved the caption that reads, “Disturbed her? No! She has disturbed me, night and day through eighteen years – incessantly – remorselessly – till yesternight; and yesternight I was tranquil. I dreamt I was sleeping the last sleep by that sleeper, with my heart stopped and my cheek frozen against hers. ~Heathcliff” At first, I felt a bit overwhelmed on how to conquer these pages, but once I started added color, the pages just came to life on their own. This is one of my favorites by far.

One last page that I added very little color to was the final scene of this book. This page has no quotes, but the minimal illustration truly captures the stormy romance of Wuthering Heights. Beautifully done!

Thank you to Random House for offering me an opportunity to sample The Coloring Classics.

5 Snowflakes